Tag Archives: panera

“The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines.” –Charles Kuralt

Thankfully, I have never personally needed the assistance of our local fire department. But that doesn’t mean I don’t see the benefit in all that they do. Beyond just fighting fires, they respond to medical emergencies, provide support during a crisis, participate in community outreach programs, and serve as public figures representing strength, integrity, dedication, and general badassness. No wonder most little kids idolize them.

Something you may not know is that out of the 1,148,000 men and woman that serve as firefighters, about 812,000 are volunteers. Volunteers! That means they carry out all of the aforementioned duties for no compensation whatsoever. They put their lives at risk to help others because they believe it is the right thing to do. Because they believe in protecting the greater good. Talk about an act of kindness.

I wanted to show my gratitude for our local firefighters so I decided to stop by the station and surprise them with breakfast treats. First thing in the morning Oliver and I ran out and bought a dozen donuts from the grocery store; then we went to Panera where we purchased a dozen bagels and cream cheese. I wrote a note of thanks and attached it to the goodies.

When we arrived at the station everyone was in motion. I didn’t want to interrupt what might be an emergency response underway so I crept in the back and handed the treats to an employee sitting off to the side. He told everyone was busy running through a drill (phew no real emergency), and they would be very excited about the treats when they were finished. I thanked the man and left.

My random act of kindness may be small in comparison to the kindness these people extend everyday on the job, but it’s a start. To the men and women that give so much to the community, my sincerest thanks.